The real question with today’s National Board of Review announcement wasn’t who won, but who didn’t win.
A couple of ties and a list of honorees that seemed to canvas the entire crop of filmmaking product from 2009 adds something of a diluted quality to the proceedings, I must say. Of course, it is worth noting that major titles like “The Lovely Bones” and “Nine” were not only absent from the list of the group’s top 10 films of the year, but they weren’t visible anywhere, in any category.
The big winner was Jason Reitman’s “Up in the Air,” which took down Best Film, Best Actor (George Clooney in a tie with “Invictus” star Morgan Freeman), Best Supporting Actress (Anna Kendrick) and Best Adapted Screenplay.
“Invictus” also did well, nabbing a Best Director citation for Clint Eastwood (someone the NBR has shown, time and again, that they can’t resist) in addition to Freeman’s shared award and a mention in the Freedom of Expression category.
(More, including a full list of winners, after the jump.)
Carey Mulligan took Best Actress for her work in “An Education,” the Coens were rightfully recognized for their original screenplay “A Serious Man” and Jeremy Renner and Gabourey Sidibe predictably took down the breakthrough performance awards for “The Hurt Locker” and “Precious” respectfully, but Sidibe’s film was something of a surprise no-show in the top 10 list. What is it with the east coast and that film these last few weeks?
Anyway, the most refreshing surprise by far: Woody Harrelson nabbing the Best Supporting Actor prize for his magnificent work in “The Messenger,” a film that also landed on the top 10 and could have more heat in this race than some might expect. In case you missed my interview with Harrelson last week, give it a look here.
Full list of winners:
Best Film: “Up In the Air”
Ten Best Films
(in alphabetical order)
“An Education”
“(500) Days of Summer”
“The Hurt Locker”
“Inglourious Basterds”
“Invictus”
“The Messenger”
“A Serious Man”
“Star Trek”
“Up”
“Where the Wild Things Are”
Best Director: Clint Eastwood, “Invictus”
Best Actor: (tie) Morgan Freeman, “Invictus” and George Clooney, “Up In The Air”
Best Actress: Carey Mulligan, “An Education”
Best Supporting Actor: Woody Harrelson, “The Messenger”
Best Supporting Actress: Anna Kendrick, “Up In The Air”
Best Foreign Film: “A Prophet”
Best Documentary: “The Cove”
Best Animated Feature: “Up”
Best Ensemble Cast: “It’s Complicated”
Breakthrough Performance by an Actor: Jeremy Renner, “The Hurt Locker”
Breakthrough Performance by an Actress: Gabourey Sidibe, “Precious”
Spotlight Award for Best Directorial Debut: (tie) Duncan Jones, “Moon,” Oren Moverman, “The Messenger” and Marc Webb, “(500) Days of Summer”
Best Original Screenplay: Joel & Ethan Coen, “A Serious Man”
Best Adapted Screenplay: Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner, “Up In the Air”
Special Filmmaking Achievement Award: Wes Anderson, “The Fantastic Mr. Fox”
William K. Everson Film History Award: Jean Picker Firstenberg
NBR Freedom of Expression:
“Burma VJ: Reporting from a Closed Country”
“Invictus”
“The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers”
Five Best Foreign-Language Films
(in alphabetical order)
“The Maid”
“Revanche”
“Song of Sparrows”
“Three Monkeys”
“The White Ribbon”
Five Best Documentaries
(in alphabetical order)
“Burma VJ: Reporting from a Closed Country”
“Crude”
“Food, Inc.”
“Good Hair”
“The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers”
Top Ten Independent Films:
(in alphabetical order)
“Amreeka”
“District 9”
“Goodbye Solo”
“Humpday”
“In the Loop”
“Julia”
“Me and Orson Welles”
“Moon”
“Sugar”
“Two Lovers”
Comments
125 responses to “‘Up in the Air’ wins big at NBR”
I am perfectly fine with PRECIOUS being shut out of the top ten here. I saw it yesterday and I think it’s overblown to the extent that it mars the emtional impact. There are some very fine performances (Mo’Nique deserves all the fuss in my opinion and Sidibe is perfectly cast in the role) but everything was so “dramatized” that I think we missed some real human connection.
However, from what I’ve heard and read I’m not entirely glad to see INVICTUS in this list. I’m afraid it’s going to be a little to pat for inclusion on a list like this and makes me believe the “hardon for Eastwood” comments.
I am thrilled to see STAR TREK here – happy to see this organization embrace the supposed goal of AMPAS extending their Best Pic nominees to 10. I still have my doubts Oscar will come through.
I’m conflicted about (500) DAYS OF SUMMER and WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE. (500) made me cry, which is a good thing, but it just didn’t expand my world as much as BRIGHT STAR. Maybe it’s because Deschanel is no Cornish for me. However, JGL can play Keats any time he wants – and do it well!
I have no doubt that WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE is one of the most artistically complete “mainstream” films of the year but I just wish it had moved me more – that’s the sort of picture that should have had me sobbing and it didn’t. Still on artistic courage alone, I’m glad it’s getting some love.
Since I sincerely don’t want either Freeman or Clooney to get the BA Oscar this year, I’m not thrilled. Again, I haven’t seen either performance but I suspect the Mandela role in this film is going to seem too “easy” to me and, although I suspect I’ll fall in love with Clooney all over again, I just can’t get my head around him being a 2-time Oscar winner. Maybe he’ll change my mind. But, for now, and for reasons not based on performance quality (since I haven’t seen his yet either) I’m rooting for Bridges to finally get his recognition.
Of course, I’m also rooting for Meryl so much I’m already hoarse (and I have 3 months to go!!) but I am perfectly fine with Mulligan winning here. It is a perfect place for her work to be acknowledged (just as it was for Hathaway last year). Having seen Sidibe, Streep and Mulligan, I certainly hope if Streep doesn’t get it, Mulligan will. (Again, Sidibe does a very fine job in PRECIOUS but it is not out of this world extraordinary and, in fact, provides her with a lot of clear, obvious moments to play in an environment that can’t help but showcase her choices).
I agree with a lot of people here – I am thrilled for Harrelson again, purely for emotional reasons since I haven’t yet seen THE MESSENGER.
I am not so thrilled about Kendrick. I have a hard time believing she out acts Mo’Nique but we’ll see.
Actually, I think IT’S COMPLICATED getting Best Ensemble makes a lot of sense.
I’m glad to see Kendrick getting the credit she deserves. Nine needs a lot of work to be a good film and Lovely Bones doesn’t seem to have the wow factor everyone thought it would–though I have only seen the former.
Not pleased about A Single Man being snubbed–Colin Firth was brilliant.
They definitely saw The Lovely Bones. And I’m pretty sure they saw Nine (since everyone saw that in New York weeks ago).
Surprised about NINE and LOVELY BONES snubs. Were they screened?
(500) and STAR TREK in the Top 10?
Hell, yeah!!
I’m not sad that Mulligan won, since I really liked her performance but they noticed “Julia” but they didn’t think Swinton was better?
I predicted “Nine” to win. I really suck at this. :p
@ billybil – I agree with nearly everything you say but disagree verrmently about Precious and Mulligan.
Maybe it is because I did not enjoy an Education but I do not get the hype about Mulligan’s performance, don’t get me wrong it is a good performance but Sidibe’s performance, left me overhwlemed. So I would substitute Sidibe for Mulligan.
Precious as movie for me was also more of an experience movie and though it is contrived in places – its is still with me.
But if Meryl gets shut out this year – then – *arrrgh!!!
* Even though she should have won for Doubt last year!!!
I was looking at NBR winners from past years and it’s almost sickening how much they love Clint Eastwood. It certainly makes his director win here make a little bit more sense (considering it doesn’t really at all in the grander scheme of things). Curiously, they were too soon out of the gate for Million Dollar Baby which came out so late.
As for the panic about Nine, The Lovely Bones, Crazy Heart, etc. not showing up, it could be as simple as not enough of their voters having been able to see them in time for the vote. I don’t know much about the NBR, or who their voters are, but they probably don’t wield enough power to get NBR-specific screenings like there are for the Golden Globes voters, and with those films only just recently starting to screen it could be that simple.
(I can however imagine that Eastwood & Co. set up an NBR screening for Invictus considering they always love him regardless.)
@ billybil – I agree with nearly everything you say but disagree vehemently about Precious and Mulligan.
Maybe it is because I did not enjoy an Education but I do not get the hype about Mulligan’s performance, don’t get me wrong it is a good performance but Sidibe’s performance, left me overwhelmed. So I would substitute Sidibe for Mulligan.
Precious as movie for me was also more of an experience movie and though it is contrived in places – its is still with me.
But if Meryl gets shut out this year – then – *arrrgh!!!
* Even though she should have won for Doubt last year!!!
@billybil: Holy [placated] diatribe! You’re kind of awesome though. I mean, except for the fact that I cry less =P, I essentially think we share a mind about close to everything you said.
@Nel: No, she should not have. Melissa Leo should have won for Frozen River, end of story.
As for the snubs, if for example Mo’Nique is heading for a sure-fire slam dunk at the Oscars, in a few weeks we’re going to be so tired of seeing the same name pop up everywhere.. So instead of being negative about Mo’Nique, Bridges and whoever else missing out here, let’s be glad the one-name parade hasn’t started yet!
The more diverse the nominees and winners are running up to the Oscars, the more interesting it will be.
@ Jim T – Oh man didn’t even see that in the NBRs list – Tilda’s performance was the performance of this year for me. This is very depressing!!
“And Kris, the Avatar screenings, will they take place in Imax 3D or the regular 2D small screens?
Because showing it on a small 2D screen would be showing off the movie to a huge disadvantage. I wouldn’t see the film that way.”
Digital 3D, which is the way the film was shot.
I’m not sure where this ‘IT HAS TO BE SEEN IN IMAX’ meme started, but it’s not really true.
500 Days! A Serious Man! Wild Things! I like this list; it’s fun. But I think next time they should make up some more awards (like “Special Craft Services Achievement” and “Spotlight Award for Key Grips”). Maybe they can even add another Top 10 list, like “Top 10 Movies that We Didn’t Mention, but Probably Like Anyway”.
@ The Other James D.
In my defence – I have been meaning to watch Frozen River but just haven’t got round to it. But C’mon it is Meryl and she was amazing in Doubt .
@Nel: Well, make sure you see it ASAP! All I can say is it resonated with me so well–so nuanced, natural, yet subtly powerful. Mmmm.
Streep was amazing, yes. But of all the recent nominations, I would’ve wanted her to win for Adaptation. instead. Then again, I wouldn’t take the Oscar away from Catherine Zeta-Jones ever.
I say let’s not rush to get her the third one. I actually hope it’s not this year, as I’d rather see Sidibe or Mulligan win. (I have a non-winner preference, unless the performance is monumental–such as Penn’s worthy second win!…Though, I would take away his first and give it to Depp. Hehe.)
If we had to have a repeat winner this year though, I’d prefer it be Streep or Cruz, if only for the latter to set a record as the first Supporting Actress to win twice consecutively.
Kris, or anyone knowledgable … any rumblings of NINE and/or THE LOVELY BONES doing well at screenings? I know reviews are mixed so far, but I’d think these would go over well with industry insiders/Aademy voters.
@Cde. & Liz
What I probably mean by not show off the movie to its best advantage is that they won’t be struck dumb by the visual spectacle to not care about the quality.
On Avatar day I saw the footage twice, once in Imax and once in normal 3d and the difference was immense. The first time I was kinda awe-struck(by the visuals), the 2nd time I thought, the dialog is awful. My friend said I just wasted her 20 minutes the second time around. And even the trailer, when I first saw on my monitor, it looked cartoonish, I really did find that it much improved on a giant screen.
@red_wine, (500) is overrated as hell! Not bad but I was like “It’s like Sex and the City but SatC came first!”
PS: I love Sex and the City
@ The Other James D.
Just put Frozen River near the top of my rental list (they never give you your first choice (o;)
Sidibe would be my first choice (of the predictable choices) but there was something about Meryl’s performance this year, that just had this old Hollywood feel and I loved it. Though again it probably wasn’t her best performance – I think she should be rewarded for her recent body of work as to be honest imho, no one, who is most likely to be nominated has put in the performance of the year for me. Only Sidibe comes close.
500 Days of Summer is proving to be more and more of a Best Picture threat…Fox Searchlight will probably push hard for the nod. To be honest, I always thought Oscar experts had downplayed how well it was going to do at the percursors
To those worried about Bridges’ chances: even the obvious frontrunner gets snubbed by them sometimes, it just happens. In 2003, Return of the King didn’t even rank on NBR’s Top Ten, and it went on to a clean sweep at the Oscars. Now, Bridges isn’t the same pre-ordained frontrunner that Return of the King was, but to quote the poster for 2007’s NBR champion, you can’t stop what’s coming–not even the National Board of Review. Their word is the first, but it certainly is not the last.
How did Mo’Nique not get Best Supporting Actress?
Besides, no Nine, Precious or Avatar in the 10 best films? Jeez.
Star Trek! Yes!!!
YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES!
These awards made my day. “Precious” was not EVEN in the top 10 (and I predicted it as the best film). This gives me hope for the rest of the season.
I’m ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY HAPPY with the inclusion of “Where the Wild Things Are” as a top 10 film of the year. I loved that film.
Also congratulations to “A Serious Man”, “The Hurt Locker”, “(500) Days of Summer” and “Inglourious Basterds”. They’re all in my top 10 of the year (which is topped by “Micmacs”, the most underrated film of all-time).
I will more than likely see “Up in the Air” this weekend. Can’t wait.
Other than that, I’m sad I missed “Star Trek” in theaters, it’s getting a lot of awards and I haven’t even seen it. I also have to see “The Messenger” (surprise contender) and “Invictus” which has yet to come out.
GREAT PICKS.
RE: Avatar, I’ve RSVPed for both screenings that are coming up. One in a standard theater, the other in IMAX, and both in 3D, of course.
@Jim T, 500 days isn’t a bad film its just a normal romantic comedy to me. An unhappy ending to a love story doesn’t make it profound.
And since few love stories can come out to an advantage when compared to Annie Hall but since admirers of the film have already done it, it cannot muster even a shred of the staggering sadness and understanding that comes at the end of Annie Hall. Lewitt and Deschanel seem to have a teen love story compared to Keaton & Allen’s adult mature interaction.
Even the screenplay is nice but not nomination worthy. A few jumps in an essentially linear screenplay doesn’t make it clever.
@Nel: Actually, one performance has for me: Michael Stuhlbarg was a revelation! He needs some critics awards, Oscar nod or not. He deserves the recognition. Someone, award that fucker! (Hehe.)
I’m eager to see A Serious Man again, too. Only not in this year, because I’ve discovered that it’s a jinx if I see a movie twice within a single year. Also, I cannot watch leaked screeners at home, unless I’ve already seen it in theaters. That’s also a jinx. Think I’m full of it? Take a gander at last year’s crop:
At-home:
Revolutionary Road
The Wrestler
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Gran Torino (Mwahahah.)
Once in theaters, once at home post-New Year’s:
Milk
Frozen River
Slumdog Millionaire
The Reader
In TCCOBB’s case, it’s more of it losing almost everything. And in FR’s case, it’s getting that surprise Screenplay nom. But the Winslet train and the Penn vs. Rourke, as well as the awesome GT snub, made me wonder about how I view things.
…Which is why I am eager for an Invictus screener to leak sometime next week ^_^.
Aspect Ratio – You are right and made me feel a lot better about this list.
@ The Other James D. – I just realised that in my post I should made it clear that I was referring to female performances this year.
I am actually going to see a Serious Man this weekend. I do agree that critics awards can boost someone deserved (hello Bridges) but I am afraid that I now hold you responsible for O’Rourke not getting the Oscar last year!!
Last year’s NBR’s had very little correlation to the Oscars. I don’t think 2009 will be any exception. Don’t expect much of this to carry over.
In response to Liz in post 49, the explanation that “a film should be good in any format” is bollocks. So fullscreen pan and scan shouldn’t make a movie’s cinematography any less good. Lawrence of Arabia isn’t any good because it isn’t that epic when you’re watching nit on your iPhone?
Yeah, your argument holds no water.
Hell YES for A Prophete!!
The best movie of the year getting it’s dues!
Awesome to see Up in the Top 10 along with A Serious Man and Inglorious Basterds.
And thank god Hurt Locker didn’t win best screenplay!Hopefully it will stay that way during the season
No Sin Nombre :-(
@Ivan, I haven’t seen “A Prophet” but if you consider it the best movie of thej year then you should be annoyed that it’s not even in the top 10. Award givers’ way of thinking has made us take for granted the fact that a great non-English film will almost never be a contender in the main categories.
Vera Farmiga lost to her co-star. I don’t think she will pick up that many awards now. But I hope she gets a nom.
Wow — the hate for Eastwood is alarming, guy’s a great director..not his fault if the awards folks fall over him for every film — sure they are all not great, but the man has made some brilliant movies.
@Jim
Well they have a Top 10 foreign movies but you’re probably right,it’s kinda ridiculous to limit foreign movies to such labels.
A great movie is a great movie period
BTW if you have the chance to check,do so,you won’t regret it.
A Single Man is soooo shut out!
Love this list. I like precious but it is so overrated and im glad it didn’t make it. So so happy 500 days of summer made it, it is my favorite film of the year.
@Jim T- I know you prefaced it with “almost” never, but hey, this decade has already seen two foreign language films nominated for Best Picture (granted, one is by an American director, but still–and the other had a very realistic shot of winning), multiple foreign language films nominated for their screenplays (with one–Almodovar’s Hable Con Ella–winning), and several foreign language films nominated for Best Director (if City of God’s surprise showing at the 2003 awards isn’t THE awards story of the decade, it’s a close second to the wins for Polanski or Crash). So while, yes, foreign language films more often than not don’t get a fair shake, they certainly aren’t being outright ignored.
Oh, and if you count Slumdog Millionaire as a foreign language film (I don’t, but it makes some sense), then at least one film that features a large chunk in a foreign language has won Best Picture so far this decade.
Thanks Nel – I actually think Mulligan and Sidibe gave similar performances – both perfectly met the challenges they were given and both extremely well cast BUT I do not think either one of them transcended what we should expect from leading professional actors in major films. Don’t get me wrong- they still deserve recognition for their very fine performances but not adoration. Truth is, I give the edge to Mulligan because she didn’t have the benefit of extreme physical attributes that couldn’t help but make Sidibe’s performance stand out and be effective.
Now Streep as JULIA – she contributed a fully lived in performance which beautifully captured the essence of a person who is familar to many of us – and did so while actualizing a range of emotions experienced by this “larger-than-life” character facing less obviously “dramatic” situations (how was that for a mouthful?). Think about the issues Meryl made her audience care about and compare them to the earth shattering issues Sidibe and Mulligan got to face. Once again, Streep was extraordinary in JULIE & JULIA. I was concerned last year when I heard that Julia Child was to be Meryl’s big ticket this year – I just couldn’t imagine an award-winning performance coming out of such a role but now…now I’m convinced Streep was even better in this than she was in DOUBT. (Actually, Other James D, another place we agree is with regards to Melissa Leo last year. If I wasn’t such a avid fan of Meryl I would have been rooting for Leo! She was so great in FROZEN RIVER!)
So, Other James D. – anytime someone refers to me as awesome in any context I’m totally theirs! And I don’t cry all that often, really…really, I don’t! Sharing the same mind on much of what I wrote just proves how brilliant we both are! BUT – we don’t share the same mind about Cruz – although she’s scrumptious I am not the least interested in seeing her get any sort of record by winning the Sup Actress in consecutive years. And you’re f___in’ crazy about Meryl – by all means let’s rush to give her a third Oscar because she should have 4 ot 5 already!!! I’ll wrestle you to the floor about this one! (Gosh – not only do I seem to cry a lot but I use a lot of exclamation points too. So, I’m an emotional guy – so sue me!)
Fanboys and their fucking Eastwoodies.
made me LOL! And I love Renner too! And you’re absolutely right – it IS nice to have things shaken up a bit just as long as most people keep predicting Streep for the Oscar win!!
D9 was a great movie, wasn’t it? I had such a good time and it actually surprised me (which is such a rare treat!)
And you’re right! Michael Stuhlbarg was robbed! He was fantastic in SERIOUS MAN and this is just the sort of place he should have been recognized! Stuhlbarg was certainly more interesting than Freeman, I bet! Oh well, I’m gonna pretend Stuhlbarg was way high on their list.
And I LOVE that you actually showed proof of why you’re a screener jinx! I love it! If I can locate one, I’ll make sure you get the INVICTUS screener you want. :-)
OK, I’ve gone back and commented on all your comments Other James D. That will teach you to indicate I may be awesome!
Seems like AMPAS could go in any direction this year since the awards are all over the place. Gothams chose THE HURT LOCKER, NBR goes UP IN THE AIR, and Spirits go to PRECIOUS. Will AMPAS go the way of the slick studio film with the big movie star made by a Hollywood insider with a pedigree, or annoint the first ever woman or African-American film director who have both made difficult, edgy independent films without any major movie stars to fall back on? Stay tuned! It’s getting interesting.
One of the stronger lists in my opinion
(500) Days of Summer
Inglourious Basterds
A Serious Man
Up
All some of the stronger films I have seen this year.
Haven’t seen Up in the Air but my most anticipated this year. Weird with Morgan Freeman getting in (even if it is tied) Mulligahn was okay but I haven’t found a lead performance that I am that excited about right now anyways.
Precious being left out is fine it was a good movie but I do not think it was this great personal film it was hard to get in with any of the characters. Still this is the NBR they have a mind of their own(how terrible!)
@a-mad
Wall-E was in the NBR top 10 last year also.
I’m thrilled though that UP has followed suit.
How is (500) Days Of Summer better than The Proposal? Really?
@ Billybil – Don’t get me wrong still think you are awesome but Mulligan was too cute for me. Sidibe repulsed me when she first came on screen but in the end – wow!
I agree with you on Meryl in Julie and Julia, you describe it well and can only hope that the Academy decides to reward Meryl for 27 years of outstanding work.
@who ever said the NBR didn’t look anything like the Oscars last year,
Sure this is true for the awards part, but 4 of their top films (including their winner, Slumdog) were 4 or the 5 nominated. I’d say at least their top 10 list, along with BP, holds at least some consideration, of course that is if things play out like last year.
My guess is when it comes to Oscar night, The Messenger, (500) Days of Summer, and Star Trek are moved out in favor or Precious, and Nine
Autopilot Eastwood fawning aside, I’m fine with this list — the high-profile snubs, combined with quirkier inclusions like “Where the Wild Things Are,” give it a bit of character and resolve, things the NBR sometimes lack.
As for those complaining that Tilda Swinton got overlooked, I sympathize as a fellow admirer — but am sufficiently grateful for the miracle of “Julia” being recognized in the first place! Can’t be too greedy. And Mulligan is a terrific choice for Best Actress.
By the way, am I the only one sensing that “A Prophet” is gathering more momentum at this early stage than “The White Ribbon?” I think Sony might have chosen the wrong film to open in 2009.